Description

Also known as Allied Cowrie, Common Cowrie, Common Egg Cowrie, Common Egg Ovula, Common Egg Shell, False Cowrie, False Egg Cowrie, Velvet Cowrie, Velvet Egg Cowrie.

Found in shallow waters, often lying in the fleshy coral of Sarcophyton, also close to black soft corals, and sponges.
They feed on gorgonians, soft corals, and sea pens.
Length -8cm
Depth - 0-20m
Widespread Indo-Pacific

These snails have large colourful mantles black with yellow and white spots which completely cover the shell.
Distinct from true Cowries by teeth on only one side of aperture or none at all.

Cypraeidae have beautiful shells and equally beautiful mantles.
The Cowries are probably the most admired and sought after by shell collectors.
Cowries have few predators, but the mollusc-eating cones like Conus textile and octopus can inject venom into the cowry's flesh through a small hole and then sucks out the contents.
The mantle is like a cloak around the shell, highly muscular and when it contracts it forces water through the tubular siphon to propel itself rapidly through the water. Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovula_ovum